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With This Ring (Young Justice SI) (Thread Fourteen)

Reader mode
Mr Zoat said:
Diana sighs. "Paul, we all read your mission reports."
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You all read them now. That wasn't always the case.

punching reach other
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While punching the Reach is generally to the good I don't think that r was intended.

out of his discussion
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missing t.

Good luck with the school."

"School?"

She smiles with mock-cruelty, and then turns away. "You'll see."
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She has to know by now that no one can force Paul to do something he doesn't want to. Not even Paul can do that reliably.
Trying to send Paul to school as a student just results in him ignoring you. Sending Paul to teach at a school… the phrase 'unintended consequences' comes to mind.
 
LazySloth13 said:
Best bet is that a bunch of known characters wind up applying to work for the League as costumed heroes rather than Batman's agents but need a more experienced hero to show them the ropes, especially for the younger generation, the only problem being either their powers or mindset when it comes to being a superhero. Or they did decide to hire more mundane support crew to help handle logistics but need taught what to expect when it comes to the job.
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Alternatively, they're sending part of The Team to infiltrate a possibly-evil school, since those do show up occasionally in comics (and I think there have been more than one in various DC media).
 
Prince Charon said:
Alternatively, they're sending part of The Team to infiltrate a possibly-evil school, since those do show up occasionally in comics (and I think there have been more than one in various DC media).
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I'd be curious why, the league straight up could just order it shut down until society is rebuilt, no need to infiltrate or gather evidence when they're running the world
 
Ardy said:
I'd be curious why, the league straight up could just order it shut down until society is rebuilt, no need to infiltrate or gather evidence when they're running the world
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Because they're trying not to be tyrants, functional schools are part of rebuilding society, and 'possibly-evil' is pretty far from 'confirmed evil.'
 
Prince Charon said:
Because they're trying not to be tyrants, functional schools are part of rebuilding society, and 'possibly-evil' is pretty far from 'confirmed evil.'
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I'm pretty sure the world is non-functional enough that taking the risk of another evil organization pumping out mentally conditioned students would be stupid evil to the point Batman and atom would tell them to fuck off
 
Mr Zoat said:
Just an observation. You instinctively seeing someone acting against the Thanagarian Empire as a personal threat… Like I'm a fellow prisoner swiping your apple off your lunch tray, is exactly the mindset the Mors were trying to acculturate. And it is actually impressive that you're coping this well with your life being flipped on its head like this."
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I really enjoy seeing alien cultures explored, and I think this story is the first time I've really seen Thanagar explored and expanded on. Reminds me a bit on the Cadassians from Star Trek. Very cool.
 
I do enjoy seeing WW show up more, she and Alan are OL's first real contacts in this universe, and they're his friends, and it is nice to see hero's being heros now and then to remind us that not everything good comes from the main character.
 
mastermenthe said:
Is no one else concerned about Shayera acting out of character with that last remark?
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Her life has been shaken up quite a bit. She actually got to work through a tiny bit of her anger at Paul, gained some freedom from her anger connected to her culture's manipulations, and she has escaped murder's consequences basically...uh... like Mister Miracle 😁.

Now I feel like I could trust her to fight through an anger-aura, like Paul can handle fear effects. This was a beneficial experience for her, honestly. OH MY GOD I WANT HER TO GIVE PAUL AND JADE THE ABSOLUTE BEST WEDDING GIFT! Somehow. Just to really bring home the idea that she isn't "some angry bitch" and she isn't "the new Nabu for Paul." She actually changed as a person, in a way which snowballs further developments.
 
Schooled (part 2) New
20th September 2013
09:02 GMT +3

"…which was pretty ominous."

Jade and I land just outside of the Temple of Hades, and walk inside.

"And they didn't tell you anything about a school before today?"

"Nothing that sticks out. To be honest… A lot of the structure we used to have has broken down. There's so much that needs fixing and can benefit from having a superhero get on it… We don't really need Batman or anyone else picking out specific missions for us."

"Paul… You don't think.. that there are briefings, and you're just not going to them?"

I blink. "Are you telling me that there are? Did Artemis-?"

"Not everyone has a power ring or a pet city, Paul."

"Oh. So does..? She know what this is about?"

"You know that Conner is deferring going to college?"

I nod. "Conner, Mitchell and Zatanna all are. Ah. Well, Zatanna's still arguing with Giovanni about whether it's worth her going at all, but… She's not going now."

"Batman had some sort of meeting with everyone who isn't in college. Or rather, everyone who is official on the team and is working for the Justice League full time. Artemis wasn't included."

"Was it a secret?"

That earns me a mild frown. "Batman's implemented a need to know policy."

I shrug as we approach the main statue of Hades, Jade giving some side eye to the sacrificial slab-.

"Animals. They sacrifice animals. And most of the edible parts aren't included in the portion offered to Hades."

"I didn't think the Amazons practiced human sacrifice, Paul."

"You were giving it a funny look. And anyway, professionalising our work isn't a bad thing."

I remember the line from… One of the Ultimen in Justice League Unlimited, I don't remember which one; 'I started wanting stuff'. It sounds a little self-absorbed until you realise that you're expecting someone to live as a mendicant in addition to doing insanely risky and vitally important work. Firemen get paid. Policemen get paid. The only problem with superpowers is that the few of us who actually use their abilities commercially are very well paid, but that's a handful with extremely commerce-friendly powers and for most of us there's no real market to set the price. So like Green Lanterns those who actually need to get paid get paid like an equivalent police officer. I don't get paid, and my team mates who got the payout for killing the Kriegers don't either… As far as I know, but some of the others do, and that's… Perfectly reasonable.

But with professionalisation comes professional standards, if only so that we don't constantly work at cross-purposes and have some sort of uniformity of approach. The Justice League effectively had a need to know policy relating to some things… Real names, for example. But having things formally written down…

Well, the joke is that it means that Batman is actually sharing some things now.

"Paul?"

Thana walks-.

"Thana! You're back!?"

She nods. "It seemed like a poor time for proselytising. And I do have duties here."

"Are you socialising and making friends? Because it's going to be really awkward if I have to follow through on my threat with Jade here."

Jade narrows her eyes slightly.

Thana blinks heavily. "You-? Yes, I have been socialising. I have had to. I could not persuade people to abandon their god without understanding their lives and relating to them on a personal level."

"Good show! No offence intended."

"I would not have taken any in any case. Is there a reason for your visit?"

I step to the side, gesturing to Jade with both hands. "I finally persuaded Jade to convert. For purely pragmatic reasons."

"I would not have expected anything else." Thana looks Jade over. And keeps-.

"Hey."

Thana clears her throat, and looks Jade in the eye. "There is no formal investiture. Usually it would come as part of participating in our rituals more generally… But given the identity of your betrothed, I think that Lord Hades would like to speak with you both in person."

Jade tilts her head to the side slightly. "Do I count as a demigoddess now? Or is it Paul's.. general…"

"Yes." Thana nods. "It is that."

I nod. "Lord Hades has always struck me as a wise and forward thinking deity."

"At this point I think that even Koalemos understands it."

"Heh, good. In that case…" I gesture in the direction of the gateway to Erebos. "Can we?"

"By all means."

I offer Jade my right hand, and she takes it in her left. Then I transition us to the gateway opening.

"Lord Hades was pretty clear that there' s no ritual significance to the entrance per se, but we are moving to a high magic zone so I'm a little nervous of doing anything too exotic."

"But we can fly."

"Of course."

She triggers her flight system and swoops down the tunnel, and I follow her close behind. "What's he going to want from me?"

"Nothing, as I said. It's not that sort of religion."

"Anyone else?"

"It's not impossible that Nemesis or Zagreus might want to talk to you. Performing services for the gods is a good way to get time off the Punishment Fields, but it's more likely that they'll want to sound you out."

"So it is that sort of religion."

"No, the basic package is free. You don't even have to particularly like the gods."

"But they get you on the upgrades."

"Upgrades are upgrades. They'll take your soul whether you take them or not. But if you help preserve the aspect of reality under their preview, they'll reward you. It's more like exercising while also having good health insurance."

"Hm. Was Thana checking me out?"

"Yes. I did warn you."

"Oh, it doesn't bother me. Having the people I'm negotiating with distracted is usually helpful." … "Does it bother you?"

Does it..?

"A little?"

She sighs, and accelerates.
 
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